2015 Draft Thread - Part 1

[Ruzious]

From Wiretap:

Tyus Jones is expected to be a late first round pick if he leaves Duke for the NBA.

Many NBA executives believe Jones' stock will never be higher after leading the Blue Devils to the National Championship.

"It's hard to see his star being higher," one high-level NBA executive told me after the game. "He still can't guard and is a below-average athlete, but he has [guts], is smart, poised, is a solid shooter and can play pick-and-roll. He should probably leave."

"He needs to decide how much time he wants to spend in the D-League or on an NBA bench next season versus trying to repeat," another NBA guy said. "If he goes pro, he's top 20 or 25. He had a fantastic performance tonight and throughout the year. His teams always win, and he elevated his team throughout the tourney."

One NBA general manager said simply, "He's got to go out."

The logic is right that his value won't go higher - what more can he accomplish? But the logic about not picking him until after 20 isn't right. Might as well take advantage of the foolishness of NBA GMs.

I think Grant goes higher, but I'd be perfectly fine with him, as well.

[pancakes3]

There's no argument for Tyus Jones becoming an all-star or even a Brandon Jennings caliber player. He's closer to Shelvin Mack. However, It'd be awfully nice, and imo likely, that he pans out to be a very solid Jarrett-Jack type pro and that's exactly what we need on the 2nd unit.

[payitforward]

Tyus Jones is another player who people just focus on his perceived lack of athleticism, but he's a heck of a player. And at 18 - having to switch to playing off the ball half the time - in deference to Quinn Cook - after being strictly a PG in HS - you can tell he's got "it" - he's a player - not just a point guard. I think he can't miss in the NBA - and yes - he'd be fine playing with Wall.

Lyles is overrated, imo. I've seen him in mocks going top 7 or 8 - which I think is ridiculous. He's decent, but there isn't one thing that he can hang his hat on as being exceptional at. He's long, but he's just a mid-range jump shooter, imo. Portis and Looney would be hard to pass up, because Portis can definitely be a stretch 4 - in addition to having good size and length - and Looney has a developing jumper to go with good athleticism and rebounding ability. But I'd still take Tyus Jones over both because I think he's a better player.

I agree w/ every word of the above. I'd be ecstatic if we got Jones. I agree about Portis and Looney as well. Would be very happy w/ Portis who looks like a bargain at our draft pick. Looney is a longer shot but w/ a bigger upside.

I fear, unfortunately, that all 3 of those guys may be gone however. Especially if we wind up picking #20.

[payitforward]

There's no argument for Tyus Jones becoming an all-star or even a Brandon Jennings caliber player. He's closer to Shelvin Mack. However, It'd be awfully nice, and imo likely, that he pans out to be a very solid Jarrett-Jack type pro and that's exactly what we need on the 2nd unit.

None of those look like useful comparisons to me. Not even close.

Compare him maybe to Shane larkin -- except he's a much better shooter. Or to Ty Lawson, who is one of the best point guards in the league.

Except that TJ is younger than either of them were when they played their Freshman year in college. He has plenty of potential to develop. I think he's likely to be a terrific player.

[DCZards]

DCZ, you know who I would really like the Wizards to draft? Jerian Grant

http://www.nbadraft.net/2015mock_draft (I'm liking this mock as of 4/6/15)

Grant can run and is the second guard this team lacks.

CCJ, I agree with you on Grant. Would love to see him in a Zards uni. I think he's a guy who will be able to play both some PG and SG. But I believe Grant is a lottery pick. In fact, I'm surprised he's not on Dat2U's list.

[payitforward]

Even if we pick at #20, for Portis, Looney & Jones to be gone by our pick one or more players rated higher in DR's current mock draft would have to fall.

Booker is a candidate to fall -- I know a lot of you like him, but I don't quite see it (shoots well, and... ??). I don't want Dunn or Grant much either. Turner is another guy who might drop. His odd physical makeup scares me.

My biggest fear is that Ernie takes Montrezl Harrell. Has no chance at all.

Does anyone have a good take on some of the guys rated further down? I.e. George Lucas, who sounds... very odd but possibly phenomenal? Hollis-Jefferson? Cliff Alexander?

[payitforward]

DCZ, you know who I would really like the Wizards to draft? Jerian Grant

http://www.nbadraft.net/2015mock_draft (I'm liking this mock as of 4/6/15)

Grant can run and is the second guard this team lacks.

CCJ, I agree with you on Grant. Would love to see him in a Zards uni. I think he's a guy who will be able to play both some PG and SG. But I believe Grant is a lottery pick. In fact, I'm surprised he's not on Dat2U's list.

His numbers are outstanding, and so his size. I stopped on him, because he's a 5-year college player. But, in fact, though he'll be 23 by the time the season starts which certainly isn't young to be drafted this year, he's still young enough I guess.

And... he's Harvey Grant's son -- youngest of them.

[jivelikenice]

Grant & RJ Hunter are at the top of my list. I've seen Lyles mocked to us too but I can't see him slipping that far. Solid draft. Great chance for the Wizards to blow it with another potential young core addition

[Dat2U]

It's early in my research but someone please explain difference between Tyus Jones & Tyler Ennis of Syracuse last year?

Recent history tells us if athleticism is questionmark for a PG prior to going pro, it's going to be a big issue in the league. See Ennis (who hasn't impressed so far), Trey Burke, Kendall Marshall, Nolan Smith, etc.

There's a reason why his stock will NEVER be higher among scouts. Because we all see the obvious physical limitations and it appears he's maxing out his ability right now.

[Dat2U]

Two guys i didn't rank...

Trey Lyles .... reminds me a lot of Patrick Patterson, maybe an inch taller. I could see him developing range out to 3. Not a plus defender or rebounder. Just solid offensively.

Jerian Grant ... let's see... iffy shooter, check. so-so athleticism, check. poor finisher, check. weak and not very physical, check. Maybe he morphs into the next Mark Jackson as a big slow pure PG that carves out a nice NBA career. I'm not holding my breath. I think he needs to go the a perfect situation where the front office truly believes in his abilites as a floor general... but I think he's going to have a real tough time of it defending PGs.

[jivelikenice]

With the depth of this year's draft it makes too much sense for the Wizards to look to acquire an additional 1st round pick.
1. They've gotten extremely old
2. They have no young frontcourt players on the roster under contract
3. If they want to maintain financial flexibility for '16 they need to fill out the roster with some inexpensive rookie deals

I'm not holding my breath though with this group

[Ruzious]

Two guys i didn't rank...

Trey Lyles .... reminds me a lot of Patrick Patterson, maybe an inch taller. I could see him developing range out to 3. Not a plus defender or rebounder. Just solid offensively.

Jerian Grant ... let's see... iffy shooter, check. so-so athleticism, check. poor finisher, check. weak and not very physical, check. Maybe he morphs into the next Mark Jackson as a big slow pure PG that carves out a nice NBA career. I'm not holding my breath. I think he needs to go the a perfect situation where the front office truly believes in his abilites as a floor general... but I think he's going to have a real tough time of it defending PGs.

I thought you were going to blast Grant for being old. I concur that he needs to prove to GM's that he's a 3 point threat. I think he can, but it's not a guarantee. I disagree on him being weak. He's got GREAT size for a PG and has no issue with lack o physicality, imo. I think his length advantage makes up for a lack of athleticism. I like his ability to set up his teammates, and he's so big and scores well enough so that he has the versatility to play the 2.

I pretty much agree on Lyles though to be fair, he played out of position all year at the 3, so it's hard to tell on him. But yeah, some mocks have him going top 10 - which I think is crazy.

[DCZards]

Two guys i didn't rank...

Trey Lyles .... reminds me a lot of Patrick Patterson, maybe an inch taller. I could see him developing range out to 3. Not a plus defender or rebounder. Just solid offensively.

Jerian Grant ... let's see... iffy shooter, check. so-so athleticism, check. poor finisher, check. weak and not very physical, check. Maybe he morphs into the next Mark Jackson as a big slow pure PG that carves out a nice NBA career. I'm not holding my breath. I think he needs to go the a perfect situation where the front office truly believes in his abilites as a floor general... but I think he's going to have a real tough time of it defending PGs.

I thought you were going to blast Grant for being old. I concur that he needs to prove to GM's that he's a 3 point threat. I think he can, but it's not a guarantee. I disagree on him being weak. He's got GREAT size for a PG and has no issue with lack o physicality, imo. I think his length advantage makes up for a lack of athleticism. I like his ability to set up his teammates, and he's so big and scores well enough so that he has the versatility to play the 2.

I pretty much agree on Lyles though to be fair, he played out of position all year at the 3, so it's hard to tell on him. But yeah, some mocks have him going top 10 - which I think is crazy.

I think Dat underrates both Grant's athleticism and strength. He's certainly much quicker than Mark Jackson was. Grant is also an above average passer and his assist #s back that up. And I too see him as being able to play both some PG and SG.

I especially like the fact that Grant was often at his best when the game was on the line.

[DCZards]

His numbers are outstanding, and so his size. I stopped on him, because he's a 5-year college player. But, in fact, though he'll be 23 by the time the season starts which certainly isn't young to be drafted this year, he's still young enough I guess.

And... he's Harvey Grant's son -- youngest of them.

Actually, Harvey has another son currently playing at DeMatha.

[Ruzious]

It's early in my research but someone please explain difference between Tyus Jones & Tyler Ennis of Syracuse last year?

Recent history tells us if athleticism is questionmark for a PG prior to going pro, it's going to be a big issue in the league. See Ennis (who hasn't impressed so far), Trey Burke, Kendall Marshall, Nolan Smith, etc.

There's a reason why his stock will NEVER be higher among scouts. Because we all see the obvious physical limitations and it appears he's maxing out his ability right now.

Speaking as someone who wasn't impressed with Ennis and is very much so with Jones - why compare them just because they're somewhat similar physically? It's pretty obvious that Jones is simply better at everything offensively. Ennis wasn't even an efficient scorer in college - and he was a year and a quarter older than Jones was at the same stage. The best thing about Ennis is that he didn't make a lot of mistakes - he was a mistake avoider. Jones is a play maker, and Ennis isn't. I was saying this about Jones all season - he's the kind of player you want to have the ball in his hands when the game's on the line. There aren't many players like that.

[Sluggerface]

With the depth of this year's draft it makes too much sense for the Wizards to look to acquire an additional 1st round pick.
1. They've gotten extremely old
2. They have no young frontcourt players on the roster under contract
3. If they want to maintain financial flexibility for '16 they need to fill out the roster with some inexpensive rookie deals

I'm not holding my breath though with this group

There's literally no assets on the roster worth a first round pick other than Beal and Wall.

[Sluggerface]

It's early in my research but someone please explain difference between Tyus Jones & Tyler Ennis of Syracuse last year?

Recent history tells us if athleticism is questionmark for a PG prior to going pro, it's going to be a big issue in the league. See Ennis (who hasn't impressed so far), Trey Burke, Kendall Marshall, Nolan Smith, etc.

There's a reason why his stock will NEVER be higher among scouts. Because we all see the obvious physical limitations and it appears he's maxing out his ability right now.

Speaking as someone who wasn't impressed with Ennis and is very much so with Jones - why compare them just because they're somewhat similar physically? It's pretty obvious that Jones is simply better at everything offensively. Ennis wasn't even an efficient scorer in college - and he was a year and a quarter older than Jones was at the same stage. The best thing about Ennis is that he didn't make a lot of mistakes - he was a mistake avoider. Jones is a play maker, and Ennis isn't. I was saying this about Jones all season - he's the kind of player you want to have the ball in his hands when the game's on the line. There aren't many players like that.

Agreed about Jones. I think people got sullied on him because of his frame and playing with Okafor and Winslow, but the tournament has pretty much confirmed that he's the real deal. I think he's the best point guard prospect outside of Russell and Mudiday.

[nate33]

With the depth of this year's draft it makes too much sense for the Wizards to look to acquire an additional 1st round pick.
1. They've gotten extremely old
2. They have no young frontcourt players on the roster under contract
3. If they want to maintain financial flexibility for '16 they need to fill out the roster with some inexpensive rookie deals

I'm not holding my breath though with this group

There's literally no assets on the roster worth a first round pick other than Beal and Wall.

Humphries is probably the only guy on the roster who has value and is somewhat expendable. He could be worth a late 1st but I think I'd rather trade him for a competent wing in the Anthony Morrow mold.

[jivelikenice]

^Cash, a future first round pick, a 2nd round pick, Satoransky's rights, (Nene)...It shouldn't be an impossible task if the team is determined to pick up a pick in the 2nd half of Rd 1.

[FAH1223]

Let's be real, this management would never trade a veteran for a 1st rounder. It's always the opposite.

Hell, we don't have a 2nd rounder because of the trade with Boston to get Humphries.